Machine for applying plastic bands



Jan. 25, 1944. i J BALSLEY ETAL 2,340,211

' MACHINE FOR APPLYING PLASTIG BANDS Filed May 23, 1941 ZSheets-Sheet 1 B 2 7 7 m 2 M .2 3/ .NS\\ 3 0 2 I. l v. 6 6 7 \\E\ 2 .A./. R \2 2 INVENTORS.

EYS

.Jan. 25,1944.

J. R. BALsLEY ETAL MACHINE ,FOR APPLYING PLASTIC BANDS Y INVENIORS. James R. Balsley BY Ea H. Co/omy ATTOEAIEYS Patented Jan. 25, 1944 UNITED 's Arss PATENT o t-rice] MACHINE FOR APPLYING PLASTIC BANDS James R. Balsley, Stamford, and Roy H. Colomy,

Springdale, Conn., ass'ignors, by mesne assign ments, to James R. Balsley, Stamford, Conn.

Application May 23, 1941, Serial Norseteoz 7 Claims. (Cl. 226- 80)- The present invention relates to a method and means of applying plastic bands, particularly to bottles and the like. It has been common practice for a number of years to hold the tops on bottles rigidly by means of bands of regenerated cellulose, one type of which is manufactured by the Du Pont Company and" which is sold under the name of Cel-O-Seal. These seals are highly hygroscopic and are supplied to the users thereof packed in a fluid such as water, glycerin or the like. They are applied to the bottle or other article while wet, and as they dry, shrink and take the shape of the surface to which they have been applied.

A number of attempts have been made to devise satisfactory means for applying these bands or sleeves. These attempts comprised means for inserting an expansible member inside the band, and secondly, means for expanding the band to its proper size from the outside thereof, by means such as suction. The latter one of these two means has been found extremely inefiicient and generally unsatisfactory due to the fact that because of the porosity of the wet regenerated'cellulose, the suction meanswould withdraw a portion of the moisture, thereby causing shrinking of the band prior to-its application.

In our device mechanical means are used to expand the regenerated cellulose band, these mechanical means being inside the band. Further, means are provided to remove the band in its expanded condition, these means comprising a tight fitting fixture which prevents the curling or buckling of the band at the time of removal. In the drawings and descriptionwe have shown and described the mechanism and method of applying the bands as being amethod performed with the aid of a hand tool. It is to be understood, however, that the mechanism of this hand tool may be incorporated within an automatic machine without altering the method of application and without afiecting the result.

It is an. object of the invenion to provide a method of. applying wet regenerated cellulose bands and the. like to bottle caps and similar container closure means, and of. the containers. 7

It is a further object of the invention to provide a mechanism. comprising either a hand tool or an automatic machine for applying such bands to containers and the like.

It is a further object of the invention to provide such a mechanism which is rugged and economical to manufacture,

.It is a further objectot the invention to pm 55 1 also to portions vide such a mechanism which -'util-izes no hydraulic means of any type, either suction or pressure, and which is purely mechanical-in its construction and therefore simple and reliable.

Further objects and features of the invention will appear when the following description is considered in connection with the appended drawings, in which Figure l is a transverse, cross-sectional View of the hand tool for applying bands of wet regenerated cellulose to containers or the like. This view shows the mechanism in its normal unoperated posifion. Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, the parts, however, being shown in a-position which they will have attained after the mechansm has been operated to its second position, in which the regenerated cellulose band is stretched preparatory to applying it to a container or the like;

Figure 3 is an end view of theapplying mechanism with the parts-in the'position of Figure 1.

Figure 4-is an end view of the applying mechanism with the parts in the position shown in Figure 2. Figure 5' is a side view, partly in section,'sh owing the applying device when ithas been com pletely operated and showing the band of regenerated cellulose in position on' a container; and Figure 6 is'a cross-sectional view, taken on the plane of the line 6-'o of Figure'5, showing-par ticularly the position of certain of the parts of the applying mechanism after the application of theband to the container. 7 It will be seen that the device comprises a tubular housing H, having therein oppositelyposi tioned slots-12 through which the handle members I3 protrude. These handle members l3 are fixed toa sleeve l4 on-which the tubular-membel H isslidable, the sleeve being urged outwardly (upwardly in Figures 1 and 2) with respect to member II, by means of spring l5 'as'wili be hereinafter described. Within the sleeve it lies a split collet it, this collet being normally held in itsretracted position; as seen in Figure I, by means of the spring it, being-so shaped that it is'returned' to this retracted position when the spring tension" is released, as will be hereinafter described, by means of cooperation of edges 11 of the collet it with tapered end [8 of the sleeve l4.

' Within the collet is a cylindrical body 23', having a pin 2| extending therethrough, which pin passes throughv a slot 22 of collet l6 and; is fixed in the sleeve 14. Extending upwardly, as seen in Figures-1 and 2, from the cylindrical body 20 is a rod 23 which terminates in a ball 24 adapted to cooperate with the interior sloping edges 25 of collet I6.

Collet I6 extends downwardly and is formed with disc 26 upon its lower end, which disc forms a bearing surface for the spring [5, as has been indicated. In addition to forming a bearing surface for the spring l5,this disc also forms a bearing surface for the stronger spring 21.

Itis to be'noted that the housing H is of in creased interior diameter at its upper or open end. The amount of this increase is equal to or very slightly greater than the thickness of the regenerated cellulose band which is to be applied with the aid of the mechanism. s

With the construction as given above in mind,

the operation of the device will be obvious. However, in order that this operation maybe clear, the steps thereof will be set forth in detail. With the parts in their normal position, as shown in Figure 1, a band of cellulose indicated at 30 (Figures 1 and 3) is slipped over the protruding portion of the split collet [6. As shown in Figure 3the band will be somewhat oval in shape at this time. Thereafter the user of the device places the lower end of the housing II in the palm of the hand and extends his fingers around the handle members l3, and then by squeezing exerts pressure through spring 21 upon the disc 26. At this time spring l5, being weaker than spring 21, is compressed.

Due to the movement of disc 26, and the split collet [6 with which this disc is integral relative to sleeve H and ball 24, the upwardly inclined internal edges 25 of the collet make contact with the surface of the ball 24 and cause the collet to be expanded, as shown in Figures 2 and 4. In its expanded position the collet stretches the band 30 so thatit takes the cylindrical shape shown particularly in Figure 4.

The band applying device is now inverted over the cap and neck of a container or other article to which the band is to be applied, and further pressure exerted by squeezing. This further pres sure causes cmpressi0n of spring 21 and therefore permits the housing I l to move (downwardly as seen in Fig. and upwardly as seen in Figs. 1 and 2) with respect to the other parts of the device. As it moves, the band Siicomes within the portion of the housing II which portion, as has been described, has an interior diameter substantially equal to the exterior diameter of the expanded band, consequently the shoulder formed by the juncture of the two difierent interiordiameter portions of the hOllSil'lg l l finally seats against the edge of the band 39 and forces the band from the collet over the cap and neck portion of the container, as shown in Figures 5 and 6. As the moisture evaporates from the band, the band shrinks and takes the shape of the portion which it surrounds, forming a tight seal in the same manner as when the band is applied by hand. v p

It will be obvious that while the above description has mentioned only a, device usableas ahand tool for the application of bands of regenerated cellulose, or the like, to containers or similar articles, thesameprinciplesmay be utilized in con nection with'an automati machine. For example the housing ll might be supplied with acarn follower or similar mechanism, and be driven thereby, and in like manner the handle members l3 might be omitted and be driven by power means from a machine element such asacamh Furtherinore the .SPht col et instead .o jpeins' driven through the medium of a spring, such as spring 21, might likewise be power driven, as from a cam or the like, the element of course being properly timed so that an interval is provided for the insertion of a band upon the collet, and likewise properly timed so that a turret or similar device carrying the containers to which the bands are to be applied serves to carry a container into position beneath the applying device subsequent to the application of a band to the collet, and prior to movement of the housing or outer sleeve 1 I to remove the band from the collet and apply it to the container.

While We have described a particular form of Our invention, it is obvious that many other forms may be designed which while difiering in construction, nevertheless utilize the principles of our invention. Therefore we do not wish to be limited by the foregoing description, but on the contrary desire that the scope of the invention be determined only by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device for applying contractible bands to containers, in combination, an expansible collet, means for collapsing and expanding said collet, and a hollow sleeve normally surround ing said collet and having an inside dimension to form a sliding fit on said expanded collet, said sleeve being recessed at one end thereof to receive a contractible band.

2. In a device for applying ,contractible bands to bottle caps and the like, in combination, a housing, a sleeve within said housing, said sleeve being tapered at one end to form a collet col-- lapsing surface, an expansible collet within said sleeve movable relatively to said sleeve and to said housing, a collet expander within said collet and adapted to cooperate therewith, said ex-,

pander; being fixed with respect to said sleeve,

means for moving said expansible collet with re-:

spect to said expander to expand said collet, and means for thereafter moving said housing with respect to said other members to cause said housing toextend over said'expansible collet.

3. In-a device for applying contractible bands to bottle caps and the like in combination, a tubular housing, said housing being recessed at one end, a sleeve within said housing, said sleeve and housing being relatively movable, a collet expander fixed with respect to said sleeve, an expansible collet movable with respect to said sleeve.

andsaid housing, said expansible collethaving surfaces cooperating with said expander, means for moving said expansible collet relatively to said housing, said expander, and said sleeve, for expanding said collet within a contractible band, and means for thereafter moving said housing relatively to said sleeve, expander and collet, for removing the contractible band from the expanded collet and depositing it upon a bottle cap, said recessed portion of said housing having an interior dimension substantially equal to the exterior dimension of the expanded band.

4 In a device for applying contractible bands to bottle caps and the like, in combination, a tubular housing, said housing being recessed at one end, a sleeve within said housing, said sleeve and housing being relatively movable, the internal surface of said sleeve being tapered at its outer end, a collet expander fixed with respect to said sleeve, an expansible collet movable with respect to said sleeve and said housing, said expansible collet having internal tapered surfaces cooperating with said expander and external tapered surfacescooperatin'gwith the tapered end of said sleeve, means for moving said expansible collet relatively to said housing, said expander and said sleeve, for expanding said collet within a contractible band, means for thereafter moving said housing relatively to said sleeve, expander and collet for removing the contractible band from the expanded collet and depositing it upon a bottle cap, said recessed portion of said housing having an interior dimension substantially equal to the exterior dimension of the expanded band, and means for restoring said parts to their initial positions, said means including the tapered end of said sleeve and said external tapered surfaces of said collet cooperating therewith.

5. In a device for applying contractible bands to bottle caps and the like, in combination, a tubular housing, said housing being recessed at one end, a sleeve within said housing, said sleeve and housing being relatively movable, the internal surface of said sleeve being tapered at its outer end, a collet expander fixed with respect to said sleeve, an expansible collet movable with respect to said sleeve and said housing, said expansible collet having internal tapered surfaces cooperating with said expander and external tapered surfaces cooperating with the tapered end of said sleeve, means for moving said expansible collet relatively to said housing, said expander and said sleeve, for expanding said collet within a contractible band, and means for thereafter moving said housing relatively to said sleeve, expander and collet for removing the contractible band from the expanded collet and depositing it upon a bottle cap, said recessed portion of said housing having an interior dimension substantially equal to the exterior dimension of the expanded band, and means for restoring said parts to their initial positions, said means comprising resilient means for restoring said parts to normal position and comprising likewise said external tapered surfaces of said collet and said tapered end of said sleeve.

6. In a device for applying contractible bands to containers, in combination, a tubular housing open at one end, said housing having a greater interior dimension at said open end than elsewhere and said housing being slotted, a sleeve within said housing, said sleeve being spring pressed outwardly and carrying handle members extending through said slots in said housing, a split expansible collet partially within said sleeve and partially extending beyond said sleeve and said housing, said collet being spring pressed outwardly with respect to said housing and spring pressed inwardly with respect to said sleeve, means comprising external tapered surfaces on said split expansible collet for collapsing said collet when said parts are in normal position, a collet expander supported within said collet by said sleeve, and internal tapered surfaces on said collet cooperating with said expander for expanding said collet when said collet is moved outwardly with respect to said sleeve.

7. In a device for applying contractible bands to containers, in combination, a tubular housing open at one end, said housing being recessed to have a greater interior dimension at said open end than elsewhere and said housing being slotted, a sleeve within said housing, said sleeve being spring pressed outwardly and carrying handle members extending through said slots in said housing, a split expansible collet partially within said sleeve and partially extending beyond said sleeve and said housing, said collet being spring pressed outwardly with respect to said housing and spring pressed inwardly with respect to said sleeve, means comprising external tapered surfaces on said split expansible collet for collapsing said collet when said parts are in normal position, a collet expander supported within said collet by said sleeve, internal tapered surfaces on said collet cooperating with said collet expander for expanding said collet when said collet is moved outwardly with respect to said sleeve, means for displacing said collet outwardly with respect to said sleeve and said housing to ex pand said collet, means to displace said housing outwardly with respect to said sleeve and said collet to remove a contractible band from said expanded collet by cooperation of the recessed end of said housing with the band, and means for restoring said parts to normal position, said tapered end of said sleeve and said external tapered surfaces of said collet cooperating during the return movement of said collet to effect the collapsing of said collet to normal collapsed condition.

JAMES R. BALSLEY. ROY I-I. COLOMY. 

